Recently finished it. FX did a Christmas break around episode 6 which doesn't really work for a show like this, a show that is best when a mood is built up. Maybe why I felt first half was better then second half but there were other reasons: first few episodes had a few scares but then they seemed to stop that which was a pity. There was also an issue that there were two storylines that, for awhile, were powered by individuals and idea's but they both quietened down.
the story-lines
The first can be pretty much described as Tate and the second, the ghost of Hayden. Tate's psycho-side allowed him to be good use for scares early on and also was unsettling as he took part in Doctor Harman's sessions and began to woo Violet. There was always just enough done to remind me that Tate had issues and it always left a slightly unsettling element. Yet I find it hard not to like Tate, his relationship with Violet showed a really sweet side, as did the briefly shown efforts to please Nora, his relationship with Violet was great to watch for so long. I loved the Halloween episode and how Violet was willing to take charge on the beach, then throwing in the hints of what Tate once did through the dead. Yet once she knew his real self, it seemed like it was left to simmer for awhile, nice to watch but not the intresting and unsettling romance it was before until late on.
I sympathised and liked Hayden at first. Even when she became the chief villain, I could feel sorry for her at her frustrations or unhappiness when the show went down that route. At first, when she realized she was dead and became a evil ghost, she could be a driving force as she played with the heads of Vivian and Ben. She could be seductive, intelligent, slightly crazy and angry, charming and had some intresting schemes. They also had some intresting idea's like the unending rage or the sexual hunger. Yet after awhile, she just become a stock angry villain.
It did finish well though it felt like the last episode was a bit separate from the rest of the series and not really a grand finale.
Lots of things I liked, the early scares, a few jokes, the cast, most of the characters, a lot of the idea's, the ability to pull of a brilliant and shocking twist. I wasn't fond of Ben or Vivian but could be rather fond of minor characters we only saw in one or two episodes. The problem was that it tried to do too much. There was the early chaos but even once that got sorted out, it could sometimes call back a character we hadn't seen for ages with no explanation
examples
Bully-turned-friend Leah is in the show early on, vanishes then turns up really late on. Or the murdered nurses who help in the penultimate episode.
. It tired to juggle too much and so left some characters underdeveloped or suddenly recalled after a few episodes gap
examples
Dr. Charles Montgomery or the children (bar Tate, Addie and Violet) in the house were underdeveloped. The gay couple and Nora were prone to vanished for episodes then making returns when needed.
Some stories seemed to end with a whimper or barely be picked up on after the episode, themes could last for only an episode or two then get dropped or get introduced very late on whenever the story would need it.
examples
Tate's eager to please Nora, Hayden's anger/sex drive
Had they cut down on the characters and better planned fewer themes, think it would have been better for it. Or spread some of the stuff onto another series.
Pleased there will be a second series, not so much about what they announced for it.
Spoiler
New cast, new location, pretty much new everything. Makes sense to do that, keep it fresh and so on. Yet this groups story didn't quite feel complete, particularly for a few characters so would have liked to have seen a least one more season at that house.
